Sure ways to spot a scammer (2024)

I just got an email from a survey company that’s going to send me a check to deposit for my 1st assignment so I can buy 3 gift cards and to send pics of front and back with info showing and to keep cards for future assignments and there are so many red flags!! What should I do?

Thank you very much.

I got a call saying "This is your oldest grandson, I know it doesn't sound like me, I've been in a car wreck." I replied "If you are my oldest grandson, what's your name?" He hung up.

Thanks for watching our backs!

Thank you!

The articles and/or training materials posted on the FTC website are the best in class. I am so grateful to have access to this content and resources.
Curious if there are any articles written from a retailers perspective on how to teach their employees to protect their customers from these scams.
This would be very helpful.
Thank you,
Michele

My parents were sold a plot in a national cemetery by someone representing a mortuary. After they passed, we discovered this and learned that burial in a national cemetery is free to all military veterans. They do not sell plots. My parents' intended site had no record of the sale. Please be aware of sales tactics targeting veterans for services they're already entitled.

Great article!

I get emails all the time that i have purchased on amazon ebay etc and my card will be charged in 8 hours

They also say @dont turn off computer”

Thank you for all that you do!

Thank you for letting us know about SCAMMERS. I have seen these messages before. Thank you.

What about companies that tells you they can help you with your debit??

I had an error come up on my computer saying I had been hacked, call Microsoft with the phone number. I called a d was told that my IP address was stolen. So was my Id info. She gave me a case number. Then she said that my id was used to look at child p*rn and open accounts with lots of money. She said she was transferring me to FTC. The guy said that I was not to speak to any on and send me a copy of ID and had me key online PN1156 to prove it was him. I was told not to tell anyone or I would be arrested. He said the scammers are smart and if they get wind we are talking I would be in danger. He said he is talking on a secure telephone line number 202 600 8402 I was to call this number to talk to him. He then told me to get all the money in my investments and have them send it to me in a bank check. I was suppose to deposit it in my checking. There would be two guys showing up to give me papers on what I am suppose to do. He always asked if I was alone. He told me Security would be locking my SS number and send me a new SS number. Some how he got a copy of my license. What can I do I know this must be a scammer. Help

When reading emails and I think it is a scam, what is the best way to reach you?

Thank you. But the robot thing below, people like me can't see it. Many places use that and many of us can not see.

I got hooked..saw email about a charge for antivirus I never signed up for for $421..saw a phone number to call if I did not want this...called it..{stupid on my part}} they had me download Any desk which a screen sharing sight...because when I was suppose to type in the $$421 to get it back he was using screen share on my bank account and made me think that $$3000 was added to that spot instead..so I panicked and asked how do it get this back to you ..he says do not tell anyone because the $3000 was from a foreign account and if anyone knew I would get fined for accepting it...long story short..he said to get back the $$3000 to them I would have to go to closest place and buy 4 $500 Google gift cards..i said well I will have to get money at an ATM ..he says no use the $money that was deposited in your account and showed me that sure enought there it was in my checking account..and put it on a cc or debit card..so I did that..the whole time he had me on speaker and told me to just tell cashier I was buying them for Xmas gifts..I then was told to also put any desk app on my phone and to let me know when I was in my driveway so I could scratch off numbers and send him pictures of each one..I did that..I never gave it a thought about it being a scam..then he tells me he will call me the next morning to get the other $$1000..well it bothered me all night and I couldn't sleep..so got up really early and decided to drive to my bank and I took my laptop with me so I could show them email...I called to tell them I thought I was scammed and they immediately locked my bank account and cancelled my debit and credit card..he called my phone 5 times while I was driving ..I rejected all of them..so he texted me and asked where I was..I did not answer..needles to say I was out $2000..had to get new cards a new bank account and change all mh passwords and payment info on all my bills as well as let social security to mail me my money instead of depositing it into my old account..little did I know but the $3000 I saw in my checking was what he did..went into my account and transferred money out of my savings account while using Any desk..Filled out police report..but since they are not from U.S. they cannot get them..I am 77 and all I have is social security so that loss really messed me up..payments couldn't get paid etc..And I feel very stupid..and of course my family made me feel foolish..all behind me now and it will never happen to me again!!!!!!!!!!

Thanks so much for these updates and informative communiques. As a senior, I fortunately have so far never fallen for these scams; but I know they've come my way, and thanks to you folks, I'm prepared to delete such requests.

Thank-you for the information.

I just received one yesterday. I was doing a search and a message box dropped in on my search and said that my computer was having multiple attacks on my Apple ID and various accounts. It looked very legitimate. I called the number and a person with a Middle Eastern accent tried to get me to open WhatsApp so he could end the attack. When I told him I wanted him to talk to my husband, he hung up.

I regularly read and find benefit from your infographics, and this is one of the best I have seen. So concise yet covers such a variety of scammer tactics. Thank you for sharing. The only thing which could make these better is if the infographic were available as a downloadable one-page PDF which we could post in our lobbies for customers to see and read.

Is Cheersway a scam? They send you USDT, ask you to withdraw it, then ask you to deposit a bigger amount of money to their app.. Claim it is refundable in a year. And that it's an employment opportunity

IN 2020 I WON A MAJOR WIN 1 MILLION AND A NEW TRUCK BACK EVERYTHING WAS FRE TO WIN AND GET YOUR WINNINGS THEY HAVE NOT PAID ME A PENNY OF IT 4 YEARS NOW THEY ARE TRYING TO BLACKMAIL ME INTO PAYING THEM OR THEY WON'T PAY ME ALSO THIS PAST DECEMBER I WON 10.5 MIL AND A NEW TRUCK WON'T PAY ME UNLESS I BUY A GIFT CARD ??? THAT'S ILLEGAL

I truly believe CHASE BANK is scamming. I had to call the bank just to change my phone over two months back., Because someone was taking money from my account. The young man said it was done. Give it about 24 hrs. Well! This past week I had to call Chase Bank again to up date my number again. It wasn't updated at all. I had to call the bank again. They placed me on hold so they can look at my account. I was told my phone number do not match anything in my account. I really feel CHASE BANK employees is going into my account and saying it is fraud. They really need to be investigated as well

I have been talking to a man who CALLED ME IN RESPONSE TO A REQUEST TO REMOVE MY OLD MICROWAVE AND INSTALL A NEW ONE FOR A GOOD PRICE..He called yesterday and said a person would be at my house Saturday.He was very hard to get him on the phone and for him to call back.So far no show and no answer on phone calls.I think I have been SCAMMED.Should I report this to the police.?

Started out by a comment I made under a post for grandparents loving their grandchildren. A so called gentleman posted a reply under my comment that he would love to chat with me and become my "friend". I answered and we started to message each other on Facebook everyday about job on an Oil Rig in the Golf Coast. Ofcourse he got my attention being a lonely widow and an easy target for a Scammer. After two weeks of messageing I asked for Face time with him and ofcourse when we tried I could not see his face and was told by him it wasn't working. It ended when he asked me for a gift card. The End...

Scam scam scam

Scammers

Hello everyone please helped me let everything right now for security and protect fraud and scam making work out making issues account day ease from A-Z please thrive tome enable me know when good right for me thanks

I received a call claiming they were from The Publishers Clearing House. They claimed I was up to win $4.5 million dollars and stated the taxed on that money was $90.00. Then we started to get the money for the taxes until I finally found out that this was a scam. When I refused to give them any more money, the explained to me that we were almost finished with the process. I give them $25,000 more dollars and that will satisfy the obligation. I would be sent the money right away. I refused and the guy kept calling me for three (3) days after. Then heard nothing more. I hope they get these guys.

Thank you for the information. I am taking care of an older adult and we receive the same SCAM call every morning around medicare benefits. Each time, there is a different number, customer service representative and when I mention the do not call list they hang up. BE AWARE - could be calling themselves "Healthcare Benefits".

His telephone number begins with country code 234, he has my number and I'm very concerned.
Thank you.

Being scammed by apple